Chapter Eight

Kayura felt the cool air on her skin, it was cold but at least wasn't snowing like it was likely still in the Nether Realm. She leaned on the balcony and could see the warlords waiting in the yard. They weren't obviously there, they were shadows among the guests of the party. Surprisingly, the warlords liked Steve. In fact, Kale's only complaint was, 'he's such a boy scout.'

"Kay," she heard him say and felt her heart skip as she turned around.

Steve was dressed in the finest clothes she had ever seen him in. He wore slacks with a fine black shirt and a red tie. She wondered if Clint or Natasha picked it out for him, because it looked like nothing in his closet. She leaned back against the railing, "Dais found you."

Steve almost couldn't speak when she talked to him. What Kayura lacked in figure, she made up for in sheer and utter beauty. She wore a blood red dress, which against her pale skin, was the most beautiful contrast. Her frame was elegantly poised against the railing with the moon high above her head like a halo. She wore long black gloves, he assumed to cover her scarred hands, and pointed black shoes. Around her neck was a black necklace that glittered in the little light. She wore a black fur shawl over her bare shoulders and he felt guilty for wanting it to be gone so he could see her skin more clearly. He cleared his throat, "Kay...you look...gorgeous."

She smiled, "you don't look so bad yourself, soldier."

He stepped out into the cold night air, "you really went shopping."

"My mercenary days were very lucrative," she answered as he came to her.

He looked down at her, she was wearing makeup. He had never seen her in makeup, and before he thought she was flawless, with it she was a goddess. She wore just enough to accent her natural features and he could feel his heart in his throat again. He took her hand, "you haven't spoken to your queen yet."

"My queen will have my attention when she leaves the company of that man you're friends with," she said sternly as she touched his tie. "Can we not talk about them for a while?"

He nodded, "what did you want to talk about, Kay?"

She blushed, "you told me you loved me last night."

"I do."

She glanced down briefly, "I should have said it in return more properly."

He shook his head, "you came back, I think that's words enough."

She shook her head, "Watashi wa, anata o aishiteimasu. (I love you.)"

He grinned as he leaned his head forward, "can you translate for me..."

"I love you," she said as he leaned in for a kiss.

His lips were amazingly soft against hers. His hands slipped to her waist again and pulled her tight again. He broke the kiss suddenly and she noticed a slightly troubled look in his eyes, "Kayura..."

She placed a hand on his neck, "what's wrong Steve?"

He looked determined for a moment and she wondered what was going on in his head. He slipped a hand in his pants pocket as he knelt down on his knee, "I asked once during a moment of battle and I want to ask you this time because you deserve someone who can at least do that."

She felt felt every inch of skin grow hot as he took her hand and popped open a velvet box. Her eyes locked on a beautiful ring. It was elegantly crafted to look like a bow with a small red diamond in the center. She wasn't expecting that, and she didn't know how to act but take a deep breath as he asked, "Kayura, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

She felt her eyes sting with tears and fell into a hug with him, "I never even got to tell you yes, but a absolutely yes."

He kissed her briefly as he pulled off her glove to slip on the ring. He kissed her hard as he slipped it back on, "I guess we should go join the party, huh? Apparently, I'm a famous participant here."

She nodded quietly as they stood up together. She hugged his strong arm, "no wonder Dais was being funny. Listen, I have a lot to do tonight. Feel free to mingle, but don't let them drag you into our politics."

"I think that's too late," he sighed. "I kind of caught Tony with Hoshi..."

Kayura rubbed her brow, "that's why Kento hasn't been around...dammit, Hoshi, of all people..."

"Yeah, I really don't know," he said as they walked though the adjacent room and into the hall. They were surprised to see the silver haired woman named Leah standing in the hall. She wore fatigues and wasn't dressed at all for the party.

Leah smiled, "hi, kids. You done playing house, can we talk business?"